Typewriter desk



March 7, 1950 w. J. BARGEN 2,499,713

TYPEWRITER DESK Filed Jan. 3, 1945 s Sheet s-Sheet 1 March 7, i950 w. J. BARG EN TYPEWRITER DESK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1945 March 7, 1950 w. J. BARG EN 2,499,713

TYPEWRITER DESK Filed Jan. 3, 1945 s Shets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'TYPEWRITER DESK William J'. Bargen, Waukegan, 111..

Application January 3, 1945, Serial No. 571,130

2 Claims;

typewriter, and a rotatablecradle in which the base board is adapted to' be positioned, so thatthe base board and attached typewriter'may be substantially inverted When'the baseboard and typewriter are inverted, the desk-top may be closed and the top usedfor writingor other purposes.

Another object of this invention is to' provide in a typewriter desk-having a folding top an improved paper or bookholderwhich'will constitute a line guide and which is secured to the I lower side of the front top section, so that the holder will be concealed when: the top is closed. A further objectof this invention isto provide a holder for holding paper or notebooks in a position in front of the t'ypist so that the workwill be in substantially a horizontal plane with respect to the eyes of the typist,. and directly above'the typewriter so aslto'thereby facilitate typing and relieveth'e'stra-in of looking sideways at the work being copied;-

Another object of this invention is to provide a desk having a sectionallhinged. t'op wherein onesection may be raisedtoforma copy holder,

and the other section a will: support papers or other articles behind the raised front section and wherein" the? hinge is. constructed as to. limit the swinging movement i of the section forming the copy holder.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewofa at typewriter desk constructed according 'to an embodiment of this invention.-

Figure 2 is a fragmentary verticalsection taken through the typewriter wellwof'thexlesk.

Figure 3 is a detail front elevation of'the lowersideof the front top section.

Figure 4 isa sectionalviewtaken onuthe'line.

4-4- of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the multiple hinge construction forthe frontand rear top sections.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the. hinge connecting, thev forward and rear sections of the desk top, and

Figure 'Zis a fra mentary-sectionalview taken:

on the line 1-1 of Figure GI Referring to the drawings, the numeral [5 designates generally a desk body, which is formed of a rear wall it opposite end walls ii and I8 and supporting legs it and 29. Thebody i5 is divided into a drawer section 2! and a typewriter section 22. The drawer section 2! has a top 23 secured thereto; which is substantially longer than the length of the drawer section 2!, so that a substantial portion of the top 23 will project forwardly of the body of the drawer section 21. A plurality of drawers 25, 25 and 26 are slid-- ably carried by the drawer section 2 l.

The typewriter section 22 includes a typewriter well 30-, wherein the rear Wall iii of the desk forms the rear Wall of the typewriter well, and

a downwardly and rearwardly inclined wall 3L is interposed between the end wall l8 and the adjacent inner wall of the drawer section 2t. A

bottom wall 32 having an opening; 33 therein is secured at its forward end to the lower rail3 3 of the front wall 3i, and is secured to a rear rail 35 carried by the rear wall iii. 'A forward horizontal upper wall 36 is secured between the end wall It and the adjacent inner wall of the- 40, forming part of the drawer section ZflQ-and also part of the typewriter section 22. The for. wardly extending wall member 39 extends forwardly from the front post 20 at the upper end of this post. A pair of angle bracing members 4! are secured to the lower side of the horizontal wall 36 and to the post 203 and All.

The typewriter section 22 also includes a hinged top, generally designated as 42 which includes a. rear' section 43 hingedly secured as at 44 to the upper end of the rear wall it, and a front.

top section 65 hingedly secured by hinge members'generally indicated by the reference numeral 46 to the, front portion of the rear section 43.

The top 32 is adapted in closed position to rest on the upper edges of the end wall i8 and the adjacentvinner wall of the drawer section 22, and the front section of the top overlies the forwardly extending front wall members 38 and 39, having the forward edge thereof substantially even with the forward edge of the top 23 of the drawer section. v

The hinge members 56 best seen in Figures 6 and 7 are of such construction that when the The forwardly extending front top section 45 is closed, the hinge members 46 will be concealed within the adjacent edges of the top sections, and the top section 45 may be swung upwardly and rearwardly and then downwardly to a position overlying the rear top section 43. A rail 41 is secured to the rear top section 43. The hinges 46 include a plurality of hinge members 46a and 46b pivotally connected together intermediate their length by the pin 46c. Hinge mounting brackets 9'|98 are recessed into the confronting edges of the top sections 45 and 43 respectively. The sides of the hinge mounting brackets 91 and 98 are formed with inclined grooves 91a and 93a. The pin 99 carried by one end of the hinge members 46a is slidable within the grooves 51a. of the bracket 91 and the pin I carried by one end of the hinge members 46b is slidable in the grooves 98a of the bracket ,98. The pins HH and H32 are carried by the opposite ends of the members 460. and 4622 re spectively and are rotatable within the brackets 91 and 98. When the top section 45 is raised, the hinge members 45a and 46b will emerge from the brackets as shown in Figure 6. When the top section 45 is lowered the pins 99 and I06 will slide along the grooves to a position recessed within the top sections 45 and 43. A rail 4'! is secured to the rear top section 43 adjacent the rear thereof, and when the front top section 45 is in completely open position overlying the rear top section 43, the front top section will engage the rail 41. The rail 41 is designed to prevent articles resting on the rear top section 43 from sliding og of this top section when the top is raised to provide for movement of the typewriter either into or out of the typewriter well. i

The front top section 45 has secured to the lower side thereof a pair of elongated arms orbars 48, which are disposed in forwardly convergent relation and project beyond the rear edge of the front top section and will underlie the lower side of the front portion of the rear top section 43 when the top is completely closed.

A substantially L-shaped copy-holding rail 49 is disposed between the forward portions of the bars 48, so that papers or books may rest on this rail and engage against the lower side of the front top section 45 when the latter is raised to a position inclined upwardly and rearwardly, as shown in Figure 2. The lower ends of the bars 48 are rounded oif, as indicated at 50, and are adapted to engage in a recess which is formed in a block 52 secured to the opposite sides of the typewriter section 22 on the inside thereof. Block 52 is formed with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined surface 53, extending from the recess 5|, so that the bars 48 may readily ride up on this inclined surface as the front top section 45 is being raised.

A second pair of blocks 54 are secured to the opposite sides of the typewriter section 22, and the rear ends of the blocks or retaining members 54 are rounded, as indicated at 55. The rear ends 55 of the blocks 54 are disposed adjacent the forward ends of the recesses 5|, and when the front top section 45 is raised to copy-holding position the bars 48 are adapted to abut against the abutments or retaining end portions 55 of the blocks 54. The top 42 is adapted to be held in its raised position by means of a spring-pressed balancing linkage 56 which is secured to the opposite sides of the typewriter section 22 and to the lower side of the rear top section 43, as shownin Figure 2.

The front top section is held against complete collapsing to a position overlying the rear top section 43 by means of a multiple leaf hinge construction generally designated as 5'1. The hinge construction 51 includes a hinge leaf 58, secured to the lower side of the rear section i2, adjacent the transverse center thereof, and also includes a leaf 59 secured by fastening members 66 to the lower side of the front top section 45.

A pair of intermediate leaf members BI and 62 are hingedly connected together, and hinge leaf 6| is hingedly connected to leaf 53. Hinge leaf 62 which is pivotally secured at one end to leaf 6| is also pivotally connected at the opposite end to leaf 59. The connection of leaf 59 with leaf 62 is a detachable connection and includes an endwise movable pintle 63, engaging the interengaging barrels of the hinge leaves 59 and 62. Pintle 63 has formed integral therewith an extension 64 and a pin 65 which is parallel with pintle 63, and is substantially shorter in length than pintle 63 and extends from the forward end of extension 64.

A loop 66 is struck forwardly from leaf 59 at substantially the transverse center and is adapted to receive pin and thereby frictionally hold pintle 63 against endwise movement. Extension 64 provides a gripping means or handle by means of which holding pin may be released from the keeper or loop 66, and pintle 63 may be moved endwise to permit breaking of the hinge connection between the hinge leaf members 59 and 62. When front top section 45 is raised to the position shown in Figure 2, which is the copy-holding position, the pintle 63 is removed from the loop 65 whereby hinge leaf 6| will be swung downwardly from the lower side of rear top section 43, and the hinge construction 51 is inoperative.

When it is desired to raise the partly collapsed top 42 in order to position the typewriter within the well 30, or remove the typewriter from the well, the partly collapsed top may be raised to disengage the supporting bars 48 from the recesses or sockets 5|. At this time the rear top section 43 will be partly raised and the connecting hinge leaf members 6| and 62 will constitute a stop means to limit the downward swinging of front top section 45. The horizontal wall or support 36, which is positioned at a point spaced downwardly from the upper edges of the typewriter section 22 is adapted to support a typewriter base board 61. The base board 61 has secured to the lower side thereof a pair of rails 68 which are disposed in parallel relation, and are positioned inwardly from the opposite side edges of the board 67.

The rails 68 slidably engage the upper surface of wall 36 and are provided with rounded opposite end portions 69. A transversely disposed stop member 10 is disposed between' the pair of rails 68 and is adapted to limit the rearward sliding movement of the base board 61 when the latter is 1 moved rearwardly to engage the rotatable cradle, as will be hereinafter described.

The base board 6! is adapted to be locked in adjusted position on the supporting wall 36 by means of a pair of inwardly projecting pins or dowels H and "i2, which are carried by the forwardly projecting wall members 38 and 39, respectively. The dowels H and 12 are adapted to engage in selected sockets l3 and 14, which are formed in the opposite side edges of the base board 51, and the board 6'! at the front portion thereof is formed with a rounded cam portion 15 to provide for the board 61 riding upwardly over the dowels or pins 1| and 12. A pair of blocks 16 are secured to the I innerside of the walls 38 and 39;; being formeda with rounded forward and reanends, andaia pair" of pencil holdingvmelnbers H are secured to the upper edges of the blocks l6 and project inwardly therefrom over the base board 61; soas to prevent undue tilting of thebase board. In other words, the pencil holding members l? co-act with the horizontal wall to provide a guide channel within which the base board Bl slidably engages.

A rotatable cradle, generally designated as it,

is disposed in the upper portion of thewell' 3B. The cradle iii includes a pair of rounded end members '59, having flat upper portions 80, which are secured to a connecting bar Bi. Aupair'of trunnions 82 are disposed at thezopposite'ends of the cradle and a washer 83 is disposed atthe inner end portion of each trunnion 82: The trunnions 82 are adapted to-rockably engagei-in sockets 85-, which are carried by horizontal rails 85 at the upper portions of the well 30. The rear end of block is provided with an extension 85 adapted to overlie in spaced relation the socket a l, so that the cradle can only be removed by lifting the cradle upwardly and then moving the the cradle rearwardly.

The end members is are provided with cutout portions 86 to provide for substantially balancing the cradle, so that the flat portions 85 thereof will normally be in a substantially horizontal position. Each end member 79 is formed on the inner side thereof with a channel 8?, which is flared at its forward end, as indicated at 88, the channel 8? being of a width to slidingly receive the opposite sides of the base boards ill. The connecting bar 86 is formed with a pair of cutouts 89 within which the rails 88 of the base board 5? are adapted to loosely engage. When the base board 6'! is moved rearwardly to engage in the channels bl, the rear edge of stop member if! is adapted to engage the upper edge of the connecting bar, so as to thereby limit the rearward movement of the base board with respect to the cradle. The stop member iii also provides for positioning of the base board fill with respect to the cradle it, so that the rear edge of the base board 5'! will abut against the lower portion of the inclined wall iii. The rail 95] provides a stop means to limit the rotary movement of the cradle when a typewriter is secured to the board and the typewriter is inverted to position the same within the well, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

In order to provide a means whereby articles such as sheets of paper, books, or the like, may be held in a position for convenient viewing over the top of the typewriter, I have provided a copyholder generally designated as SI. The copyholder at is in addition to the copy-holding rail iii and comprises a plate 92, which is secured by fastening members 83 to the lower side of the front wall section $5. The rear portion of the plate 92 is cutout as indicated at 94, so that the rear portion of the plate 92 may be extended between the upper portions of the top supporting bars 49. The plate 52 is formed with a plurality of oppositely extending staggered fingers 95, which are longitudinally bowed, so that the free ends of these fingers will be normally urged into contacting relation with the under side of the top wall section 45. Preferably there is a space 96 between the respective fingers and the ends of the fingers 95, so that a sheet of paper may be inserted beneath one or more of these fingers with a substantial portion of the sheet extending above a selected finger so that the typist can readily see the written matter on the sheet. These fingers having parallel. longitudinal edges also con stitute line gauges so that the typist can use the uppermost edge of one finger as a line gauge in copyingthe material from the sheet.

In: theuseof this typewriter desk, if desired, the top 22 may be disposed in a horizontal position withthe typewriter concealed and dependingly supported in the well 3i}. When it is desired to position the typewriter T in operative position, the front top sectionv 55 israised' by swingingupwardly and rearwardly to the limit permitted by the hinge leaf 6!. The two top sections 43'and ibrnay then beadditionally raised as a unit with the hinget i' as a pivot. The balancing structure fifiiwill hold the partially collapsed top in its'upraised position, whereby the typewriter T which is inverted, may be turned upright, the cradle 18- rotating therewith until, the forward end of the base board ti strikes'the' rear. end. of the horizontal wall. or support The base board: El may then be pulled forwardly with the rails 68 sliding over the upper surface of horizontal wall 36. The desired forward position may be obtained with respect to the typewriter by pulling the base board 61 forwardly until the dowels or stop pins II and f2 engage in selected sockets or recesses 13 and M of the base board.

The top 112 may now be lowered with the top section 45 in partially collapsed position, which is at an upward and rearward inclination, as shown in Figure 2. The bars '38 are adapted to engage in the recesses or sockets 5|, at which time rear top wall section 43 is horizontal and resting on the upper edges of the typewriter section 22.

The typist can insert either a portion of a notebook, or the like, or a sheet of paper, behind selected ones of the fingers 95 for holding the article which is being copied directly behind the typewriter and at a point above the top of the typewriter. The sheet or book is inserted by pulling the free ends of either one or two of the fingers 95 outwardly a suilicient distance to provide for the insertion from the ends of these fingers of the sheet or book. Preferably, where a sheet is being supported by the fingers 95, two of these fingers are used for holding the sheet tightly against the face of the plate 92.

If it is desired to collapse the front wall section pintle 63 is pulled endwise to disengage holding pin 65 from keepers 66 and release pintle 63 from the barrels of leaf members 59 and $2. The front wall section 45 may then be swung downwardly to the position shown in Figure 6, with the upper side of this front wall section resting on rail 47.

The copy holder herein disclosed may be made out of wood, steel, plastic or the like and is termed Ocutone by reason of the fact that the fingers are arranged in the same manner as interlocked fingers of a pair of hands. The longitudinal edges of the fingers of the copy holder may constitute guide lines and seem to tone the eyes through facilitating the sighting of the work, hence the means connecting said sections together along I an adjacent edge thereof whereby one of said sections may be rocked to overlying position relative to the other, a second hinge between said top sections on the under side thereof, said latter hinge comprising a pair of spaced apart hinge leaves fixed on opposite top sections, an intermediate hinge leaf rockably mounted on one of said fixed leaves, and a removable pintle connecting the free end of said intermediate leaf to the other of said fixed leaves.

2. In a typewriter desk, a hinged top for said desk comprising front and rear top sections, hinge means connecting said sections together along an adjacent edge thereof, whereby one of said sections may be rocked to overlying position relative to the other, a second hinge between said top sections on the under side thereof, said latter hinge comprising a pair of spaced apart hinge leaves fixed on opposite top sections, an intermediate hinge leaf rockably mounted on one of said fixed leaves, a U-shaped pintle, a retaining loop on said other leaf, one arm of said pintle rcrnovably engageable between said intermediate member and said other leaf, and the other arm thereof slidably engageable in said retaining loop,

8 said intermediate leaf securing said top sections in pivoted position.

WILLIAM J. BARGEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

